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Official NAIAS 2002 Site:
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Automotive Intelligence
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DAY TWO :
Monday January 7 - Part 1
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"I am in the lucky and seldom
position to have started a vehicle development in one company and
finished it in another" said former BMW Dr. Wolfgang Reitzle,
CEO of Ford's premier Automotive Group, at the introduction of the
all-new Range Rover.
Many of the traditional Range Rover elements have
remained with the vehicle since the original was launched more than
30 years ago and today form an integral part of the Range Rover's
design DNA. In essence, a Range Rover would not be a Range Rover if
it did not have the practical horizontally split tailgate, the bold
upright front with its simple grille, the command driving position,
the 'floating' roof, the clamshell bonnet with its castellations and
the almost rectangular interplay between the horizontal and vertical
body lines. |
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The concept car, named after the
Portuguese navigator Magellan, has a W8 engine with a power output
of 202 kW / 275 bhp. It has four-wheel drive and pneumatic
suspension with active hydraulic shock absorption. These technical
features call to mind an off-road vehicle, but that is only part of
the picture. This study unites several worlds. Whereas the two
previous concept cars could be clearly attributed to a particular
segment, this compartmentalisation has been deliberately avoided
with the "Patagonia Green" Magellan.
The team at the Volkswagen Design-Center Europe in
Sitges near Barcelona has brought together the emotional appeal of
modern SUVs (sport utility vehicles), the versatility of MPVs (multi
purpose vehicles) and the agility of an estate car. They thus
created a new species, one that melds the emotional with the
rational - travel adventure with economic, intelligent space-saving
design. |
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The Stuttgart-based brand presented
the Vision GST design study. The abbreviation GST stands for
"Grand Sports Tourer" and describes an original, new
vehicle category which brings together features from established car
concepts, combining them to create a new, independent profile: the
Vision GST is Saloon, Estate, MPV and Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) in
one -- but, above all, the study is a car with an unprecedented feel
which gives new meaning to the concept of long-distance driving
pleasure.
The Vision GST is announced to be Mercedes-Benz's
response to the frequently voiced demand for a stylish, active and
technologically sophisticated car to suit every occasion -- for a
car which offers plenty of space for the family, leisure equipment,
travel needs or work, but at the same time delivers outstanding
handling and supreme per-formance. In the design study these
qualities are ensured by a sophisticated design, coupled with
groundbreaking technological innovations from the Mercedes range and
a high-performance, high-torque AMG engine. |
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The V-12 BMW 760Li makes its North American debut at
the North American International Auto Show. This fall it will join
the 745i, which goes on sale later this month and the long wheelbase
745Li, which arrives in March.
The new BMW 7 Series points the way to the future
of the luxury/performance sedan. The fourth generation BMW flagship
sets new benchmarks for performance, luxury, design and safety with
a multitude of technological highlights, an innovative vehicle
control concept and dynamic interior and exterior styling. |
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Maserati came out with the facelifted
Maserati Spyder and the Coupe |
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Toyota presented the new Corolla, its
sister car for the youth, the Matrix and surprised with a new
concept called the ccX. The ccX is a pure concept and not part of
the product plan.
The Corolla is now in its ninth generation and
announced to become the benchmark in its class. The Corolla model is
sold now with over 25 million units worldwide. In substance and
style, the Corolla has a strong, new identity. It has improved,
enhanced and enlarged in nearly every metric and comparison, with
standard features as air condition, powerslide mirrors, rear window
defogger, 60/40 split, full wheel covers and body side moldings.
Using the same platform a concept was developed,
named Matrix. It is fully targeted on the younger buyer generation.
The Matrix covers the functioality of a SUV, the style and image and
performance of a sports car and is affordable as a sedan.
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